What are the best king crab side dishes? Pair king crab legs with classic corn on the cob or Southern skillet cornbread. Various potato styles, including roasted, boiled, and mashed, also work wonders. Otherwise, opt for a healthy side like coleslaw, artichoke hearts, peach and blue cheese salad, and steak strips with avocado and field peas.
There’s nothing as relishable as cracking open a steamy king crab leg filled with tender, sweet flesh. But even the star needs support to offset it’s delicate and unique flavors; consider our colorful array of the best side dishes for king crab legs.
Classic Corn On The Cob
The sweetness, crunch, and dollops of butter dripping off the corn is a classic side dish for a seafood grill that can’t be beaten!
Grilling the cobs will give them a delicious smoky flavor to contrast tender and sweet crab legs.
Preheat your grill and cook the cobs for about 10 minutes. Turn the corn often until it’s charred all over.
Once cooked, slather the cobs in melted butter and kosher salt to taste.
Southern Skillet Cornbread
Southern skillet cornbread is a savory or sweet southern staple that will complement and contrast the king crab meat. Plus, carbs aren’t a bad addition to all the crab protein.
Preheat the cast-iron skillet with bacon drippings at 400°F.
While waiting for the skillet to warm up, make the cornbread batter by whisking together the dry ingredients: cornmeal, salt, and baking soda. Add in beaten eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter.
Pour the batter into the preheated cast-iron skillet and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes.
Note: If you’re a die-hard sweet southern cornbread fan, add two tablespoons of sugar or honey to the batter.
Garlic & Oregano Oven-Roasted Potatoes
Potato cubes roasted and seasoned to perfection are a coveted dish that will work wonders with king crab legs.
Cut Russet or Fingerling potatoes into 1-inch cubes and toss them in a bowl with extra virgin olive oil, finely minced garlic, oregano, coarse salt, and pepper.
Spread the potato cubes on a parchment paper-lined tray and roast at 450° for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh oregano to finish.
Boiled Jacket Baby Potatoes
When was the last time you made boiled jacket potatoes? This old-time classic is easily forgotten, but it remains a hearty and yummy side dish.
Consider pairing your king crab legs with boiled baby potatoes.
Boil baby potatoes in their jackets for 25 minutes or until tender. Once soft, cut a cross on your potatoes and add a dollop of butter and sprinkle with rosemary, parsley, salt, and cracked pepper to finish.
Garlic & Herbed-Butter Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are a side dish that grace dinner tables year in and year out. Consider serving mashed potatoes with a garlic and herb-butter twist alongside your king crab legs.
Boil peeled potatoes in a large pot of water until soft. You can cut the potatoes into cubes to speed up the process.
Once soft, drain and place the potatoes in a large bowl. Then, add milk, cream, herb-infused butter, garlic, salt, and coarse pepper. Beat the potatoes with an electric mixer to fluff them up.
Sprinkle with fresh chives and sesame seeds.
Sweet & Spicy Coleslaw
Sweet and spicy coleslaw is a crunchy and creamy side dish that will complement the pile of sweet and succulent king crab legs.
This hot-and-sweet coleslaw salad kicks up any meal with fresh red and green cabbage, bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, pickled jalapenos, and microgreens.
Finish off your coleslaw salad with a dressing of mayonnaise, lime juice, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
After preparing the coleslaw, aim to refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to develop fully.
Deep-Fried Artichoke Hearts
If you enjoy artichoke hearts, try pairing deep-fried breaded hearts with king crab legs as a side or quick appetizer. You can indulge in these bite-sized fritters in under 30 minutes.
First, prepare the artichoke hearts by draining the excess liquid and transferring them onto paper kitchen towels for two minutes.
Meanwhile, take three bowls. The first one should contain flour, salt, black pepper, and Parmesan.
Then, beat eggs into the second bowl. And the last one should be a mixture of breadcrumbs, dried basil, and more Parmesan.
Coat each heart in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and deep fry them until golden brown.
Grilled Peach & Blue Cheese Salad
Grilled peach and blue cheese salad are a perfect side dish paring for buttery, sweet king crab legs.
The salad blissfully dances around your tongue, awakening all your tastebuds with sweet, salty, crispy, and creamy flavors.
Grill the sliced peaches on uncovered oiled grates at high heat grill until well charred (about 4 minutes).
Toss together arugula, mint, pistachios, fresh chives, and pancetta in a large bowl. Then add the grilled peaches and sprinkle with blue cheese crumbs.
Lastly, add a vinaigrette of olive oil, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, mustard, honey (or brown sugar), salt, and pepper.
Fillet Steak Strips, California Avocado, & Field Pea Salad
Yes, we know. Steak isn’t a standard side dish, but we can’t resist mentioning a surf and turf dish. So, we’ve transformed the heavy, mouth-watering steak into a light salad side dish as a perfect side for king crab legs.
Fry pre-cooked field peas in heated canola oil (375°F) for about three minutes and leave them to cool on paper towels.
Cook fillet steak seasoned with salt and pepper in a cast-iron pan over medium to high heat. Once cooked, add salted butter and allow the steak to rest for 5 minutes.
Prepare a salad of baby kale leaves, avocado cubes, rainbow peppers, red onion, and a vinaigrette of olive oil, mustard, lemon juice, soy, and preserved lemon.
Lastly, thinly slice the rested fillet and arrange it over the salad.
Best Beverages For King Crab Legs
The very idea of crab hunches up a feeling of luxury and nothing better than a classy wine on the side to tie it all together.
Chardonnay is the holy-grail pairing for crab! It is a medium-to-full-bodied wine with a buttery profile and apple, peach, and lemon notes. The fruity notes help cut through the buttery sauce, allowing the delicate crab flavors to shine.
Sauvignon Blanc has zippy citrus flavors with herbaceous green notes. Sipping on a Sauvignon Blanc will help refresh your tastebuds between bites.
Champagne will complement the buttery crab flavors while leaving refreshing citrus, peach, and pear notes that mingle with the crab flesh.
Best Sauces For King Crab Legs
Our sides might be out of the ordinary, but we prefer sticking to a classic lemon garlic butter sauce of king crab legs.
In a small saucepan, sauté garlic in a rich blend of sizzling butter and extra virgin olive oil to create an intensely flavorful base.
Once fragrant, remove from heat and add fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and fresh parsley.
Lastly, season the sauce to your desired taste with salt and enjoy.